MadMinute Games and Activision Value have amicably parted ways. The Take Command Series will no longer be published under the Activision Value label. MadMinute Games, Inc. will announce their next title in October 2005.

Take2's Serious Sam II multiplayer details announcement yesterday stirred up a bit of a ruckus due to the lack of any deathmatch support, and today fan site Seriously! received confirmation from developer Croteam it will release a patch after the game's initial launch that will add/enable multiplayer deathmatch. Whether this was initially plannend or due to fanbase pressure was not specified.

Black & White 2 includes other new elements, such as improved graphics and Miracle effects such as rivers of fire and earthquakes that yield mass destruction. The game also includes weather systems that impact gameplay; players will see the impact of a drought that scorches the arid plains of Egypt or the effect of a heavy snowfall on the Norse Mountains.

Namco announced today Bounty Hounds, a third-person weapons-based action game for the PSP. In Bounty Hounds, players utilize a massive selection of weapons and armor in order to fight more than 40 alien species across 40 expansive missions in a future gone awry.

Dragonshard will incorporate classic role-playing themes, a powerful and dynamic real-time strategy engine all woven together with a rich storyline involving a global conflict for an immensely powerful artifact with the power to change the fate of Eberron itself. Already revealed a few months ago, Atari today official announced that it will release Liquid Entertainments RTS Dragonshard on September 20, 205.

True Crime: New York City will follow another policeman through the meticulously re-created streets of a real-life metropolitan area. However, instead of the wisecracking LAPD detective Nick Kang, gamers will now play as Marcus Reed, a former gang member turned NYPD officer. Though few details about TC:NYC have been revealed, it will presumably have a similar moral-ambiguity system where Marcus can be either a good or a (very) bad cop.

Tulga Games has been hard at work, with vast game improvements and innovations, especially relating to the powerful Dragons. For a limited time Tulga Games are extending the free trial period from 7 to 14 days, allowing you to experience the only game in the world that lets you breathe fire, learn to fly, and become a fearsome adult Dragon. Horizons takes place in the fantasy world of Istaria and, in addition to Dragons, includes ten other unique player races, dramatic combat spells, awesome monsters, player-built cities and a compelling crafting system.

The Adventure Company launched the official Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None web site, the first ever video game based on the novel by the Queen of Crime due out this November for the PC. Mystery fans and adventure gamers can begin their investigation by visiting the website where they will find the latest information on the game, view character bios, artwork, and learn more about Agatha Christie.

Ankh is a point and click adventure game in development over at German Deck 13. You play as Assil, a young Egyptian man in trouble, making his way through treacherous Cairo, avoiding evil Pharaohs, crocodiles and assassins, to lift his own death curse.

Sid Meier's Civilization IV is a bold step forward for the franchise, with spectacular new 3D graphics and all-new single and multiplayer content. Civilization IV will also set a new standard for user-modification, allowing gamers to create their own add-ons using the standard Python and XML scripting languages. Firaxis producer Barry Caudill tells us more about the 'Great People' feature.